Islands getting busier??? Thoughts???

Travel discussion for St. John
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msgcolleen
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Post by msgcolleen »

SJfromNJ wrote:I blame it all on Kenny. Its all his fault. :evil:
YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH!! :shock:
I've got 2 tickets to paradise~Pack your bags we'll leave tonight!

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designbyroe
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Post by designbyroe »

I was just speaking with one of my friends on island who owns a business. She made the comment that so many people want so much for free....
I just do not get rudeness in anyone.

I told her that someone needs to say 'You would not let someone talk to you like that, so what gives you the right to talk to someone like that
Some people are clueless!!'

I have worked in sales, retail and customer service to long but some of what you are all saying really takes the cake, especially the lady not wanting to part with her beer to get on the ferry.....WTH
I think it is great that you made a comment LMG
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54b
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Post by 54b »

Berlingirl, the parking downtown thing was an issue last time we were there and that was one of the big reasons we rented from Conrad Sutton...he lets you use his parking lot free of charge while you're there. I think some of the other car rental agencies offer that too.

For those of us who like to go into town for dinner or drinks each night, that's a huge, huge perk.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
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Pia
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Post by Pia »

I agree 54b but the problem at this time of year is that the rental lots are full most evening - they do not have enough space for all of their rental cars to all show up at the same time/same evening

Pia
Realtor - St John Properties
Connie
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Post by Connie »

I haven't noticed anything getting busier on STT, except when cruise ships are in. Believe me, it's hell, so we stay away from Charlotte Amalie and try to find a nice little beach somewhere away from the cruisers. It's just that they come all at once.

I haven't had any problems with rude Americans. Maybe a butt into a line or something, but I just let it go.

I have been almost knocked down on the ferry coming back from STJ at rush hour by some locals. It was pretty scarey almost falling down those stairs. Learned my lesson there, just slow down and wait.

The majority of tourists that vacation are good people. It's just the rude ones that really stand out.

Some good stories on this thread though.
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
54b
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Post by 54b »

Good to know, Pia...we went in June last year and are going back in June this year. I think we took it for granted that we could always park in Conrad's lot and were thinking the same thing again.

Any advice on where to park in town if your car rental lot is full?
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow
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cypressgirl
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Post by cypressgirl »

If you are having dinner and shopping in town, is Mongoose not an option anymore?
Lex
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Post by Lex »

Anthony--
It's a great point. It seems that there should be a name for the phenomenon. It certainly is real. Early in my life I worked in a couple of vacation spots during summers and remember that the feeling intensified as the summer went on. And there is the bumper sticker that is popular in some quarters: "If we call it tourist season, why can't we shoot them?" This horribly offends some folks, but others understand the sentiment. The phenomenon can be even more complex and intense when race, class, culture or language differences are significant.

STJ is much more crowded, much more developed and much more Americanized than when we first visited. Many folks who like STJ now wouldn't have liked it in the 1980s and many folks who fell in love with it then are saddened by it now. It's a different island now and attracts a different kind of visitor. Of course we met people on our first trip who told us that we should have been there 10 years before, before all the changes started. It has been gradual, but then seemed to hit critical mass and shifted from one thing to something else.
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mbw1024
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Post by mbw1024 »

cypressgirl wrote:If you are having dinner and shopping in town, is Mongoose not an option anymore?

Mongoose is an option for dining and shopping at Mongoose. Don't think it is intended to be used as a parking area for town per se. I recall seeing a lot of signs speaking to that.
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bevm
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Post by bevm »

Sadly I'm thinking maybe STJ may not be the best choice for us anymore. We're very low key and laid back. I don't think I really want to deal with rude tourists on vacation. I have to deal with enough rude people every day commuting and at my job. I come to STJ to escape that craziness.
I'll see what this trip brings...
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PA Girl
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Post by PA Girl »

GraysonDave wrote:I wonder if that "large Southern university" in this thread was the University of Georgia.
No, it was in Virginia. I can't remember the name. I recognized it at the time. Not UVA, Virginia Tech or anything like that, a smaller school.
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flip-flop
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Post by flip-flop »

PA Girl wrote:
GraysonDave wrote:I wonder if that "large Southern university" in this thread was the University of Georgia.
No, it was in Virginia. I can't remember the name. I recognized it at the time. Not UVA, Virginia Tech or anything like that, a smaller school.
Definitely not William & Mary. We would never act like that! ;-) Are you sure it wasn't VT! lol. James Madison, Randolph Macon, Mary Washington...would be my 2nd tier bets. VCU is big but not moneyed per se.

Also, as for the parking thing...did you know there was parking behind Mongoose. Like all the way around back. I did not! I thought the only parking was on the side and front. Yes, this was my 7th or 8th trip. Learn something new everytime! Of course, the parking czar was there in the lot. That was a first for me!
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Pia
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Post by Pia »

Just remember parking at Mongoose Junction (front, back and sides) are for people shopping/dining at Mongoose Junction only and they will "boot you" and they do have a parking attendant (please don't respond with "well how do they know I'm not at Mongoose" as I haven't had enough coffee yet :lol: )

Pia
Realtor - St John Properties
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Lovermont
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Post by Lovermont »

For what it's worth, I can't think of any obnoxious tourist stories to share from my week that ended yesterday - no (April) foolin'! We did notice that it was much busier than our early December and early May trips, but we didn't feel burdened by it. We adjusted our plans a few times to seek out the less crowded beach or eating options, but it was really no big deal.

The only rudeness was from the girl selling the ferry tickets in Cruz Bay. I welcomed her with a "good morning" and then waited for her to acknowledge me, not wanting to rush her (I couldn't see through the glass well enough to see whether she was still working on the last transaction). She finally did acknowledge me by saying "Speak, Speak". Like I was a dog! Oh well, people are funny.

Lovermont
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